Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome in Edirne and its districts, located in Western Thrace, which is the most western part of Turkey.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement disorder characterised by an urge to move the legs, typically during rest, and is predominately accompanied by unpleasant leg sensations.

Methods: In this study, 4003 individuals who could communicate and agreed to participate in the study were evaluated. To obtain the data from the applicants in 30 Family Health Centres in Edirne and its districts, a face-to-face questionnaire that consisted of 54 questions was prepared by the researchers. The questionnaire included general information, questions to evaluate potential concomitant comorbid conditions and questions regarding the symptomatology used in restless legs syndrome (RLS) diagnosis, as well as questions to evaluate insomnia and tension-type headache secondary to insomnia according to the ICD-II Criteria (International Classification of Sleep Disorders-II Criteria).

Results: Of 4003 individuals, 282 were diagnosed with RLS according to the questionnaire results from Edirne and its districts, and the prevalence of RLS was 7%. Approximately, 47.9% of the patients with RLS were male, and 52.1% were female, which was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Anaemia was identified in 41.1 % of the cases and control group was detected in 19.4 %, which was significantly different (p < 0.001). Secondary insomnia was identified in 64.2% of the cases with RLS and was not detected in 35.8%, which was significantly different (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: RLS prevalence studies will increase the awareness of the community and provide early diagnosis and treatment, as well as serve as a basis to reduce morbidity and improve the quality of life.

References: 1. Allen RP, Picchietti D, Hening WA, Trenkwalder C, Walters AS, Montplaisi J (2003) Restless legs syndrome: diagnosticcriteria, special considerations, and epidemiology. A report from the restlesslegs syndrome diagnosis and epidemiology workshop at the National Institutesof Health. Sleep Med 4:101–119. 2. Salas RE, Rasquinha R, Gamaldo CE (2010) All the wrong moves: a clinical review of restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep and wake, and periodic limb movement disorder. Clin Chest Med 3:383–395. 3. Ekbom K, Ulfberg J (2009) Restless legs syndrome. J Intern Med 266:419–431. 4. Innes KE, Selfe TK, Agarwal P (2011) Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in North American and Western European populations: a systematic review. Sleep Med 12:623–634.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-prevalence-of-restless-legs-syndrome-in-edirne-and-its-districts-concomitant-comorbid-conditions-and-secondary-complications/